Game notes and quotes from BYU's 17-16 loss to Utah on Saturday, Nov. 27, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Keeping the Heat On
BYU has scored in 18-straight quarters dating back to the second quarter of the Cougars’ game against Wyoming. BYU has outscored its opponents 169-44 during that time.
Deny the Run
Utah rushed for 8 yards on 9 attempts in the first quarter. In its previous six games before today, the BYU defense held its opponents to totals of minus-10 (SDSU), 20 (TCU), minus-31(Wyoming), zero (UNLV), 8 (Colorado St.) and 30 yards (New Mexico) rushing, respectively.
Odds Are Good
BYU is now 48-5 when leading at halftime and 48-2 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter under head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
Halftime Streak Over
Utah’s win broke a streak of seven-straight games between the two schools where the team leading at halftime has gone on to win the game. The last time a team led at half and lost was in 2002 when BYU lost 13-6 after going into halftime up 6-0.
First TD of the Year
McKay Jacobson caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the third quarter on a 21-yard pass from Jake Heaps, converting after linebacker Shane Hunter returned his second interception of the season 46 yards down to the Utah 19-yard line. Jacobson scored four touchdowns last year.
Heaps Moves Up MWC Lists
BYU quarterback Jake Heaps moved into sixth on the MWC freshman total offensive yards in a season list with 1,952 yards. The true freshman also moved up to fourth on the MWC freshman passing yards list with 2,052.
Stuffing
BYU held Utah to 89 yards on the ground, its sixth game this year forcing an opponent to 100 yards or less.
First Half Shutout Streak
BYU has held its last four opponents scoreless in the first half after taking Utah 6-0 into halftime. BYU also held halftime leads of 20-0 versus New Mexico, 38-0 against UNLV and 28-0 at Colorado State for a total 92-0 margin.
Out of the Gate
With a 43-yard field goal by Mitch Payne late in the first quarter, BYU has scored first in its last five-straight games. The field goal was Payne’s second longest this season and preceded a 37-yarder just before halftime.
Scoring Payne
With 10 points off three field goals and an extra point, BYU senior kicker Mitch Payne has scored at least 7 points in four-straight games, adding to 10 points against New Mexico, 7 at Colorado State and 13 versus UNLV.
Flag Bearers
Today, former BYU tight end Jonny Harline (2004-06) carried out the alumni flag. Harline was an All-American performer perhaps best known for catching a last-second touchdown at Utah in 2006 to give BYU a 33-31 win. Carrying the team flag was Andrew Rich, BYU’s senior leader. Rich, one of two team captains, leads the team in tackles, interceptions and forced fumbles this year.
BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall
"It was a hard-fought game that came down to the last play and we just couldn't make it happen. There were a lot of mistakes on our side, but I have to credit Utah with playing a good game. It was a hard situation to be in. We fought all the way to the end, but we just couldn't get that final field goal."
"We can only go up from here. It is a time for us to improve as we get ready to move forward."